May Moths (4 Viewers)

[Farnboro John]

Slightly better last night, at least I got one NFY out of it: Chocolate-tip. And it behaved well for photos.

Otherwise 2 Oak-tree Pugs, a very worn Hebrew Character and a Heart and Dart. Not even any Cockchafers!

John

 

[KenM]

Apart from a pug that got away! believe only my 2nd ever Chinese Character this am.

 

[aeshna5]

Went to a local session at dawn this morning. From 2 traps a reasonable catch from a warm night with one heavy downpour late yesterday evening.

Brimstone
Nematopogon swammerdamella
Sandy Carpet
Heart & Dart
Muslin Moth 3
Tinea semifulvella
Light Emerald 3
Small Square-spot
Ptycholoma lecheana 2
Celypha lacunana 4
Maiden's Blush 4
Pale Tussock 2
Syndemis musculana
Light Brown Apple Moth
Nut Tree Tussock
Esperia sulphurella
Tachystola acroxantha 4
Lime-speck Pug
Marbled Minor agg
Crambus lathoniellis
Mocha
White Ermine 2
Middle-barred Minor
Common Marbled Carpet

Also a few micros to be determined & a Red-tipped Clearwing to a lure.

 

[Farnboro John]

A good night in the back garden trap after a hot humid day. There were one or two light showers overnight reinforcing my opinion of the nuance of Met Office forecasts: <5% chance means it probably won't rain, 10% chance means it's going to rain!

Anyway, four NFY: Pebble Hook-tip, Poplar Hawk-moth, Buttoned Snout (tick!) and Small Clouded Brindle.

Other nice moths included a Lime Hawk-moth, Sharp-angled Peacock, Knot Grass and Iron Prominent.

6 Heart and Dart provided the numbers with 2 Treble Lines the only other multiple and singles of Flame Shoulder and Shuttle--shaped Dart tailing in last.

3 Cockchafers and a couple of craneflies were also in the trap.

John

 

[KenM]

Another lean night!
Nowt on the wall or in the pot, save 2 Common Pug on the outside and an Aussie Orange-Tip. Drum roll…..my NFY, two metres from the pot ensnared in spider’s web….😩
Poplar Hawkmoth!

 

[Southern Viking]

Found this awesome female Emperor today at work in urban Littlehampton. Luckily didn't tread on it and released it to nearby grassland. Seen loads of males before but this is my first female

 

[KenM]

One I’d like to see, a real stunner!👍

 

[Farnboro John]

A coolish night and NE breeze kept numbers down: a second Poplar Hawk-moth for the year and a pristine Light Brocade the best, with just two Treble Lines and 3 Heart and Dart backing them up.

John

 

[JWN Andrewes]

A few recent highlights, only my third Knot-grass, some very fresh specimens of Sallow Kitten, Iron Prominent and Buff Ermine, and a few Treble Lines.

 

[JWN Andrewes]

And from last night, Silver-ground Carpet and Alder Moth, while not exactly rare for the garden, are infrequent enough to be noteworthy. Waved Umber, Oak Hook-tip & Gold Spot also put in appearances.

 

[Southern Viking]

Had a NFY Green Carpet yesterday on an evening walk in Buckinghamshire near Slapton. Another Emperor Moth too (male this time)

 

[Farnboro John]

Maz called me to the front door this morning to identify an insect. I couldn't but thought it might be a female moth of one of the non-flying females species. I photographed it with my phone and Obsidentify threw a hissy fit and suggested Asian Hornet. When I'd stopped laughing I decided it was a normal moth whose wings hadn't developed properly. Shame. I left.

Later Maz called me back and pointed out the wings had now fully inflated. I potted the moth and put it in a dark cupboard rather than the fridge in case there was still structural development in progress. Still later I had a look and it was very frisky so I put it in the fridge to calm down. After a while in the cooler (look out for Steve MacQueen playing it in the movies) I could photograph it safely and it turned out to be my first Vine's Rustic of the year.

John

 

[KenM]

Another Emperor Moth too (male this time)

Jammy bugger! you must be carrying pheromones in your back pocket!🤣

 

[OrnithologyDevotee]

Maz called me to the front door this morning to identify an insect. I couldn't but thought it might be a female moth of one of the non-flying females species. I photographed it with my phone and Obsidentify threw a hissy fit and suggested Asian Hornet. When I'd stopped laughing I decided it was a normal moth whose wings hadn't developed properly. Shame. I left.

Later Maz called me back and pointed out the wings had now fully inflated. I potted the moth and put it in a dark cupboard rather than the fridge in case there was still structural development in progress. Still later I had a look and it was very frisky so I put it in the fridge to calm down. After a while in the cooler (look out for Steve MacQueen playing it in the movies) I could photograph it safely and it turned out to be my first Vine's Rustic of the year.

John

At first, I thought you actually "potted" the moth like a plant in soil! My brain is conditioned from all my gardening! Mind sharing the photo?

 

[Farnboro John]

At first, I thought you actually "potted" the moth like a plant in soil! My brain is conditioned from all my gardening! Mind sharing the photo?

I will share both the phone pic of the uninflated moth and the proper pic of it in perfect nick when I have a minute!

Cheers

John

 

[Southern Viking]

Jammy bugger! you must be carrying pheromones in your back pocket!🤣

Wouldn't have thought they'd have done much good with the female earlier in the week! Mind you when I saw the male I was using the rucksack I'd carried pheromones in previous years (over 4 years ago) so if they're that long lasting....

 

[aeshna5]

And from last night, Silver-ground Carpet and Alder Moth, while not exactly rare for the garden, are infrequent enough to be noteworthy. Waved Umber, Oak Hook-tip & Gold Spot also put in appearances.

Your photo shows a Pebble Hooktip rather than Oak Hooktip.

 

[KenM]

Wouldn't have thought they'd have done much good with the female earlier in the week! Mind you when I saw the male I was using the rucksack I'd carried pheromones in previous years (over 4 years ago) so if they're that long lasting....

😮

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Your photo shows a Pebble Hooktip rather than Oak Hooktip.

Yes, quite right, brain fart on my part, thanks for the correction. At least I got it right in my spreadsheet (just checked)!

 

[loiner]

A couple of new species for me this week with a Small Yellow Underwing at my local birding patch and Rhyacionia pinivorana in the garden trap. I've had several pine-specialist moths in the garden in the last couple of years but couldn't tell you where the nearest conifers are!